224 BLUEFIELDS. 



itself in the intense beams of the vertical sun is a 

 beautiful tint; and the surface being covered with 

 minute tuberculous scales, which reflect the light, have 

 a frosted appearance, which is exceedingly rich. It 

 is fond of leaping about the serrate leaves of the 

 Pinguin, and of lying in their hollows ; and in March 

 and April, when the interior leaves of this formidable 

 plant are spreading out, all glossily scarlet as they 

 are, the bright green form of the little Anolis, 

 couchant or passant, is displayed to much advantage. 



The female of this species differs so much from 

 the male in size and colours, that if I had not had 

 indubitable evidence of her identity, I should have 

 supposed her quite distinct. She is much less com- 

 monly seen than the other sex. 



Before I bid adieu to these little engaging rep- 

 tiles, I will transcribe a note of Mr. Hill's on the 

 interesting subject of their changeability of colour. 

 " It is now pretty satisfactorily determined, that the 

 direct or more immediate cause of this peculiarity is 

 physiological, and dependent on the action of the 

 lungs upon the circulatory system. Their lungs are 

 large, dilatable, and prolonged ; and the phenome- 

 non itself is always most remarkable among Lizards, 

 whose general cutaneous covering does not adhere 

 closely or uniformly to the muscular layer beneath. 

 A large portion of air enters below the skin ; and as 

 it is variously distributed, according to the state of 

 the reptile, in respect to tranquillity or disquietude, 

 it gives the many-coloured hues we see so instanta- 

 neously occurring in them. Cuvier says, that ' in 

 effect, their lungs, rendering them more or less trans- 



